A Message for our Senators

The House of Representatives passed three important measures this week:

1. A National Defense Authorization Act Bill that would set the stage for Trump’s proposed $1.5 trillion in military spending, focused mainly on energizing the defense industry.
   

2. A continuing resolution that would fund the government until early December. The Senate is preparing a bipartisan appropriations bill, and the Senate leadership intends to bring it to the floor before the August break.
   

3. A budget reconciliation framework that wouldn’t require any Democratic votes. It would promptly provide $73 billion for the Iran war, $12 billion for farmers (who have generally voted for the President and been hurt by his policies), and $10 billion in grants to states that move forward with provisions in the SAVE Act. 

The SAVE Act would make it much harder for many people to vote. Most notably, people would need to demonstrate that they are citizens in order to register to vote. Each person who registers would need to show their birth certificate or passport. The SAVE Act would make it much easier for the Republicans to win this fall and in 2028.  It’s not likely to pass.  But the SAVE Act is President Trump’s top priority, and its passage would be another blow to our democracy. 

We should also urge our senators to link aid to farmers to aid for hungry families. The “One, Big Beautiful Bill” last year cut federal funding for SNAP by shifting some of the responsibility for funding to state governments. Already, four million people, about half of them children, have lost SNAP benefits, and the cuts will be deeper when the cost share goes into effect on October 1. The Democrats on the Senate Agriculture have all taken a stand on this issue. They won’t vote for aid to farmers unless it is linked to a delay in the SNAP cost share. 

We might also urge our senators to reject more funding for the Iran war. The pPresident has never had clear priorities or strategy for his war against Iran. It has killed thousands of people in the Middle East, and it has made life tougher for Americans —- especially low-income and working-class Americans - by raising prices for gas, fertilizer, and food.

Here’s a draft of my note to my senators:

As the Senate responds to the House’s funding bills, I’d urge these priorities:

1. Oppose the provisions of the SAVE Act

2. Link aid to farmers to a delay in the SNAP cost share

3. Insist on congressional oversight of the Iran war before approving more funding for it.